Fabric-folding machine.



L.-M KOHN. FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1916 1,272,462. Patented July 16, 1918.

.4 SHEETSSHEET I.

Fig. E1.

NVENTEIR ATTEIRNEYEJ L. M. KOHN.

FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION 'FILED OCT. 25, I916 Patented July 16, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"III

- L. M. KOHN.

FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 0CT.25. 19 1e.

V Patented July 16, 1918'.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- m s: A Q 1;: Q wizwh QM A EIRNEXSa L. M. KOHN.

FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1916.

.1 ,27-2,4.62.- Patented July 16, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENT-EIF JATTDRNEXE sra'ras mama orrica.

LEO M. KOHN, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FABRIC-FOLDING MACHINE,

To all whom itmay concern: 7 v Be it known that I, LEO M. KOHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buf-.

falo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Imrovements in Fabric-Folding Machines, of

' which the following is a specification.

- This invention relates to a machine designed more particularly for folding towels, napkins and other short pieces of fabric which will not make a very thick pile, although the same may be adapted for folding other sheet materials.

'lll-ieiobject of this invention is to provide a machine of this character which is efficient and reliable in operation and which is capable of folding towels and similar arti cles of varying lengths neatly, compactly and uniformly and to accomplish this by .means which automatically control the optional-elevation of the means for automatically producing an air gripping effect on the supporting table. Fig. 8 is a view of a towel or other article partially folded.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization this machine comprises means for feedingthe towels or similar articles which are to be folded, means for folding and pressing said towels, means for automatically rendering said folding and pressing. devices operative or inoperative depending on whether or not towels are being supplied to the folding and pressing means, and a delivery mechanism which automaticallycarries away the towels after the same have been folded and pressed. 1 indicates the main frame which supports the working parts of-the machine and which is so designed that the necessary bearings Specification of Letters Patent.

-Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical Patented J uly 16, 1918..

Application filed October 25, 1916. Serial No. 127,726.

are provided in the same for supporting the various shafts and other parts.

J ournaled in bearings on the frame of the machine are the transverse shafts 2, 3 which carry the feed rollers 4 and 5, respectively, whichfeed the article to be folded to the machine. structed of iron or other material capable of conducting electricity, while the roller 5 is made of wood or other similar material incapable of conducting an electric current,

the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. These feed rollers are driven at the same speed in opposite directions from the main driving shaft 6, which is journaled in hearings in the lower portion of the frame, through the medium of a chain belt 7 passing around sprocket wheels 8, 9, mounted on said driving shaft and driven shaft 2, respectively. The roller 5 is turned in a direction opposite to that of the roller 4 by intermeshing spur gears 10, 11 mounted on the respective shafts of'said rollers.

The roller 4: is preferably con- Arranged below the feed rollers and at a distance therefrom are two horizontally movable tables 12, 12 arranged side by side but se arated from each other, the same being a apted to support the article to be folded. -These tables are preferably rectangular and hollow in cross section and each is guided on horizontal tracks or guide rails 13' which extend lengthwise of the machine and are. capable of independent vertical movement within a limited range. As shown in the drawings, there are two rails for each table, so located as to support the opposite sides thereof. The rails of each are supported at their front and rear ends by means'of parallel links 14, the upper ends of the. front links being pivotally connected to a cross rod 15 passing through said rails and the lower ends being pivotally connected to a cross rod 16 supported in the'lower portion of the.f rame, while the rear links are pivotally connected at their upper ends to a cross rod 17 passing through the rear portion of the rails and the lower ends are pivotally connected to a cross rod or shaft 18 journaled in suitable hearings in the lower portion of the frame. By this construction,

each-pair of railsand the table mounted thereon are adapted to move vertically but are always held horizontally. The extent of the rising and falling movement of each table is preferably limited by means of upper and lower stops 14*, 14 -mounted on the main frame in position tobe engaged by the links 14 at the upper and lower ends of their predetermined swinging movement.

The tables 12,-12 besides being vertically movable toward and from the feed rollers are also provided with means for reciprocating them on the guide rails lengthwise of the machine. This is accomplished by means of crank arms 19 mounted on the opposite ends of a transverse-shaft 20, and connecting rods 21 each of which connects the-outer free end of one crank arm to the outer side of the respective table. To vary the width of the plies or folds of the towel means are provided to shorten or lengthen the stroke of each table. This is preferably effected by providing each arm 19 with a longitudinal slot 22 in which a' pin 23 on the adjacent end of the connecting rod is adjustably fastened. The shaft is rotated from the main drive shaft 6 by a belt 24 passing around the cone pulleys 25, 26 mounted respectively on the shafts 20 and 6, thereby permitting change of, speed when desired. By this arrangement of the. drive mechanism, the feedrollers are driven at a constant speed while the reciprocating motion of the tables may be changed to suit the character of the work which is being done.

Rotatably mounted directly above the horizontal tables 12, 12, are two horizontal creasing or molding and pressing rollers 27, 28 arranged transversely'of the table and on opposite sides of the feed rollers but preferably spaced therefrom. These folding rollrollers to rise and fall to a limited extent and thereby accommodate themselves to various thicknesses of material being folded in Y this machine. This is particularly desirable when foldin moist or wet goods which make a higher pile than dry goods of the same thickness. Any suitable means may be employed for causing'the rollers to positively rotate during the reciprocation of the tables, but the Construction shown in the drawings is preferred and consists of spur gears34 mounted on the folding roller shafts which are adapted to mesh with gear racks 35 fastened horizontally to the outer side of said tables and thereby cause rotation of these rollers when a table and its gear rack are in their upper or operative position.

Means are provided for automatically opcrating the raising of each towel supporting table 12 independently of the other when a towel enters one section of'the machine pre- I so as to be capable of swinging freely about I the axis of this shaft during the raislng and lowering of the tables. Arranged to be op erated in this cylinder is a piston 38 having a connecting rod 39 whose free forward end is loosely mounted or pivoted on the cross rod 15. Bolted or otherwise secured to the wall of the cylinder is a valve casin 40 containing a rotary sleeve 41 provided with a transfer port 41 adapted to register either with a compressed air supply or inlet port 42 or an exhaust port 46 in the casing and also provided with an inlet port 41 and an outlet port 41 either of which are/ dapted to register with a transfer port 43 leading to the air space in the cylinder, as shown in .Figs. 5 and 6. The air inlet 42 is connected the piston 38 therein is pushed outwardl so that the respective folding table is raised lntq its operative position, as shown by full lines 'in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Upon turnin the valve sleeve 41 in the opposite direction its transfor port 41 registers with the exhaust port 46 and its exhaust or outlet port 41 registers with the transfer port 43 of the valve casing while the ports 42 and 41" are closed, thereby cutting off the compressed air supply from the cylinder 36 but placing the same in communication with the outer atmosphere whereby'the folding table is permitted to drop by its own weight into its lowered or inoperative position. T he shifting of the valve 41 is controlled by an electro-magnet or solenoid 47 mounted on or adjacent tothe cyl- .inder 36 but having its axis in a plane at right angles to the axis of the valve 41, so as to cause the latter to rotate by the magnetic attraction of the armature of said solenoid motor as will presently be described.

" Arranged to move verticallywithin this electm-magnet is an armature 48 normally held upward or out of engagement with the a projection 52 on said magnet core 49 and the,

bottom of the socket 51, as shown in Fig. 5. A. lever or arm-53 is rigidly secured at oneend to'astem 54 on the valve 41 while its other end is loosely connected with the top of the armature 48 by means of'a pin 55 and slot 56 to cause the actuation of the valve by the attraction and repulsion of the" armature of the solenoid.

For the purpose of operating the electro-' niagnet which'in turn controls the regulation of the valvefor raising and lowering the tables, tween the feed rollers 4, 5, by providing each section of the roller 5, which, as hereinbefore described, is made of a non-conducting material, with a contact ring orband 5 which is so located as to be in the path of thetowels which are being fed between said rollers on that particular side or section of the machine and thereby break the contact between them. A brush 57 connected with one terminal ofa battery .58yis adapted to make contact with one of the contact rings 5 and when the feed rollers are electrically connected,,that is, when no towel is being passed between them, the current passes from the said contact ring to the roller 4, thence through the shaft 2 and out through the lead wire 59 to a relay solenoid 60- which now becomes energized. At the moment this solenoid becomes energized, it attractsan armature 61 which is preferabl in the form of a flat spring with one end astened to a boxshaped support 62 or other suitable housing for concealing the same. This attraction of.

the armature by the solenoid 60 opens a switch of which the armature 61a'nd a contact 63 form parts, the latterbeing arranged in the branch circuit 64 between said armature and the electro-magnet 47 which is associated with the cylinder valve, and thereby preventing current flowing to said magnet.

This deenergizing of the valve controlling magnet 47 causes the vertical armature therein to be raised by its spring and hence operate the lever 53 to rotate the valve so as to register with the exhaust passage, and allow the air in the cylinder to escape and lower the piston together with the respective guide rails and table out of engagement with the periphery of the folding rollers 27, 28. When a towel is fed between a contact ring 5 and the opposing feed roller 4, the circuit between. the latter and the respective contact ring is broken, stopping the flow of current to the solenoid 60 which releases the armature and causes it'to make contact at 63. Thiscompletes the circuit in the branch cir- Y cuit 64, the current flowing from the battery 65 through the valve controlling magnet 47, the branch 64, contact 63, armature 61, and

electrical contact isestablished beback to the battery. At the instant the elec- .tromagnet 47 becomes energized the armature 48 is attracted, overcoming the resistance of the spring 50, and causing the valve 41 to rotate. through the mediumof the lever 53 to open the valve and thus allow the compressed air to enter the cylinder and raise the piston together with the respective guide rails -and table into peripheral engagement with the folding rollers, which properly fold' site directions in the form of a succession ofloops or folds of serpentine form the plies of which are superposed, as shown in Fig. 8; The number of plies vary according to the length of the towel and all equal length excepting the first and last ones which may vary according to the length of the towel and the timing of the table raising and lowering mechanism, but inno case are theend plies ofthe towel wider than the intermediate plies of the same. While the several plies of the towel are'being thus laid successively one on top of another the same are pressed so that the same are smooth and free from wrinkles and the turns between the plies are also well set, this being due to the table pressing the towel upwardly against the folding rollers. As the thickness of the folded towel varies the folding rollers are free to rise in the slotted bearings 31', 82 in order to adapt themselves to this variation in thickness and produce uniform work.

In order to retain the towels or other sheet fabric materials firmly and smoothly upon each table while beingfoldedthe latter is made hollow to form an air exhaust chamber 66 and provided in its top surface with a series of perforations 66 which communicate with the hollow interior of the table,

' towels to be drawn or adhere closely and firmly to the top surface of each table and hold them until the folding operation has been completed, at which time the air suctheplies, are of tion is automatically shut off. by means similar to that employed for raising and lower ing the tables. This mechanism for controlling the suction grip of the tables may be constructed as follows:

Connected in series with the circuit 64, in which the battery 65 is interposed, is an electromagnet 67 the construction of which is the same as the magnet 47, hence a detailed description of the same is unnecessary. This magnet is adapted to control a sleeve or rotary valve 68 having an inlet port 68 and two outlet ports 68 68 and arranged in a casing 69 which is provided with a suction inlet portor passage 71, a suction outlet port or passage 70, and a vent port 76,the port 71 communicating with .the hollow tables by a flexible tubular connec- 'tion 79, while the outlet port 70 communi- (38 registers with the casing port 71., its port 68" registers with the port 70 and the ports 68 and 76 are closed, as shown in Fig. 7, then the suction of the pump is connected with the hollow table and the towels are held on the upper side of the latter by a pneumatic grip while being folded and pressed. When the valve is turned in the opposite direction so as to close the ports (58 and 71 and bring the port 68 into register with the port 7 (3 and the port (3S into register with the port 70 then communicationwith the table is shut off and the air is drawn through a vent port 76 in the valve casing and thence through the ports 68, 7 0, into the suction pump 73. This valve is operated simultaneously with the opening and closing of the valve 41 which controls the raising and lowering of the respective table, because when the table is raised to operative position, an article to be folded is in the machine and itis necessary therefore to have suction at the same time to retain this article firmly on the table while being folded. To'produce this simultaneous action for operating the movement of he table and regulating the suction thereto, both magnets are connected in series with each other, as shown in Fig. 3

After the folding operation is completed, the folded article is automatically carried away by means which preferably comprise endless tape carriers 77 and delivered to a suitable receptacle provided for this purpose. These tapes pass over an upper front roller 78, and a lower intermediate roller 7 9, mounted on shafts 80, 81, and around a rear upper roller 82 mounted on a shaft 83, all of said shafts being suitably jour'naled in bearings on the frame. Said tapes are constantlyin motion and are driven from themain drive shaft 6 by a chain belt 84. pass ing around sprocket wheels 86, 85 fastened to the shaft 6 and shafts 78, respectively. Each table 12 is provided with a plurality of re cesses or grooves 87 extending lengthwise of the same and arranged for the purpose of allowing the tapes 77 to pass freely through the same and lie below the top surface of the table, when the latter is raised 1n contact with the pressing rollers and in the act of folding a towel. When the table is lowered after the folding operation is. completed, the top surface of each table falls below the upper operative stretches of the tapes, and allows the towels to be carried away by them and deposited elsewhere for packing and shipping but when the table is raised the towel being foldedis held up out of reach of the tapes, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. i I

A suitable guiding board or feed table 88 extending transversely of the machine may be arranged above the feed rollers and inclined thereto to properly feed the towels or other fabric materials to said rollers,-as

shown in the drawings, this board being As is obvious from the drawand .out of contact with the pressing or folding rollers 27, 28, the companion piston 38 is at the lower end of its downward stroke and the armatures of the respective magnets are in their uppermost or retracted position so that both valves associated therewith are closed. The moment the towel enters between the two opposing feed rollers it causes the electrical contact between them to be broken, and this in turn causesthe circuit,

in which the air pressure controlling magnet -l-7and the suction controlling magnet 67 are located to be closed, thereby opening the respective valves operated by said electromotors for supplying the necessary air .to the cylinder" 36 for raising this table and for producing suction therein. While the. towel is between the feed rollers, the table is constantly held in engagement with the periphery of the folding rollers and is reciprocated by the respective crank '19. As the towel is fed down between the rollers, the table travels at such aspeed as to take up the slack'of the towel delivered from these rollers. reaches. the table, it is held firmly thereto by the air suction and is carried with said table to the end of its stroke. Near the end of each minimum stroke of the table, the

tion thereof rests horizontally on the table and the adjacent or intermediate portion thereof hangs vertically from the feed rollers ready to be folded upon the preceding Vhen the first stretch of each towel towel is so located, that the lower end porhorizontal portion by passing under either of the folding rollers when the table completes the end of its stroke. Duringthis time, the upper end portion of the towel is being fed between the rollers and is folded upon the intermediate portion of the towel at the opposite end of the previous ply or fold on the return stroke of the table by passing under the other folding roller. It is thus seen that the towel is folded upon itself at both ends in substantially flattened serpentine form, as illustrated in Fig. 8. When the end portions of the towel escape from the feed rollers to the table, electrical contact is made between the roller 4: and

, the respective metal ring 5 which completes the circuit through the companion solenoid 60 and breaks the contact at 63 by reason 1 of the armature 61 being attracted by said solenoid. This causes a break in the circuit in which the respective electro-magnets 17 and 67 areincluded, thus deenergizing the same and releasing the respective armatures which close the valves operated thereby, shutting off .the vacuum supply to the respective table and the compressed air to the cylinder 36. When the air supply to the cylinder is shut off, the valve 41 allows the air in the cylinder to escape to the atmosphere and permit this tableto lower out of engagement -with the folding rollers. As the table falls and the top surface thereof is arranged below the path of the tapes 77, the folded towels are carried by the latter to the front end of the machine and delivered to a suitable receptacle.

By shortening or lengthening the connection between the cranks 19 and the links.

leading tov the tables and also shifting the belt 2 1 from one pair of corresponding sections of the cone pulleys to another, the machine can be adapted to fold towels and the like so that the plies thereof are of varying width to suit requirements. Accordingly when a comparatively wide fold is desired the connection between the links 21 and the I cranks 19 is carried farther away from the shaft 20 and the speed of the latter is re-' duced in order to give the feed mechanism ample time to supply the desired length of material, but when narrower folds are desired the connection between the cranks and the links is carried nearer to the shaft 20 and the speed-of the latter is increased, so that the movement of the folding table keeps pace with the feeding rolls.

' This improved machine is very efiicient and rapid in operation and, being automatic,

requires no additional expense for attend ants. Furthermore, the towels, no matter what their length, are all folded to a uniform size, thereby facilitating the packing thereof.

The towels are fed to and folded in two ing rollers and the two folding tables, so

that, in effect, this machine is doubled, and

during the operation of the machine each folding a sheet of fabric between the same and means which control the operative relation of said roller and table and which are responsive to the absence and presence of a sheet moving into the machine.

2. A sheet fabric folding machine comprising a folding roller, a folding table having a reciplrocatiing movement past said roller and cooperating with the latter for folding a sheet of fabric between the same and said roller and table being also movable one toward and from the other for gripping and releasing the article operated on and means which control the operative rela tion ofsaid roller and table and which are responsive to the absence and presence of a sheet moving into the machine.

, 3. A sheet fabric folding machine, comprising a pair of folding rollers arranged side by side, a folding table cooperating with said rollers for folding a sheet of fabric between the same, means for reciprocating said table relatively to said rollers and means which control the operative relation of said roller and table and which are responsive to the absence and presence of a sheet moving into the machine.

1. A sheet fabric folding machine comprising a ,pair of folding rollers arranged side by side, a folding table cooperating with said rollers for folding a sheet of fabric between the same, means for reciprocating said table relatively to said rollers, means for-moving said table toward and from said rollers and means which control the operative relation of said roller and table and which are responsive to the absence and presence of a sheet moving into the machine; 1

5. A sheet fabric folding machine comprising a-pair of folding rollers arranged side by side, a reciprocating folding table cooperating with said rollers for folding a sheet of fabric between the same, means for reciprocating said table relatively to said rollers, and means for carrying the folded article away from said rollers and table.

6. A sheet fabric folding machine comprising a pair of folding rollers arranged side by side, a reciprocating folding table cooperating with said rollers for folding a sheet of fabric between the same, means for reciprocating said table relatively to said rollers, means for moving said table toward and from said rollers, and means for automatically carrying away the folded article from said rollers and table when said table is moved away from said rollers.

7. A sheet fabric folding nnichine comprising a pair of folding rollers arranged side by side, a reciprocating folding table cooperating with said rollers for folding a sheet of fabric between the same, means for reciprocating said table relatively to said rollers, and electrically cont-rolled means for moving said table toward and from said rollers.

8. A sheet fabric folding machine comprising a pair of folding rollers arranged side by side, a reciprocating folding table c'oo )eratin with said rollers for foldin a sheet of fabric between the satire, means for reciprocating said table relatively to said rollers, shifting meansfor u'ioving said table toward and from. said rollers, and an electric device which controls the operation of said shifting means and the circuit of which is opened and closed by the presence and absence of a sheet of fabric between said roll ers.

9. A sheet fabric folding machine comprising a pair of folding rollers arranged side by side, a reciprocating folding table cooperating with said rollers for folding a sheet of fabric between the same, means for reciprocating said table relatively to said rollers, means for moving said table toward and from said rollers, means for feeding the article to be folded to said, table between said folding rollers and means which control the operative relation of said rollers and table and which are responsive to the absence and presencc of a sheet moving into the machine.

10. A sheet fabric folding machine comprising a pair of folding rollers arranged side by side, a reciprocating folding table cooperating with said rollers for folding a sheet of fabric-between the same, means for reciprocating said table relatively to said rollers, means for moving said table toward and from said rollers, a pair of feed rollers for feeding the article to be folded to said table between said folding rollers and means which control the operative relation of said rollers and table and which are responsive to the absence and presence of a sheet moving into the machine.

llQIn a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers, a table movable relatively to said rollers, folding rollers arranged adjacent to said table and movable thereby, and means for automatically raising and lowering said table toward and from said folding rollers which ranged above the latter and adapted to be are responsive to the absence and of a sheet moving into the machine.

12. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers, a reciprocating table, means for horizontally guiding said table, folding rollers arranged adjacent to the latter and adapted to be'rotated by the movement of the table, and means for automatically raising and lowering said table toward and from. said folding rollers which are responsive to the absence 1 and presence of a sheet moving into the machine.

13,111 a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers, a reciprocating table for supporting the article to be folded, means for horizontally guiding said table, folding rollers arranged above the latter and adapted to be rotated by the reciprocation of the table, and electro-magnetically controlled mechanism for. raising and lowering said table to ard and from said folding rollers.

ll. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combinationof feeding rollers adapted to make electrical contact with each other, a reciprocating table for snp 'iorting the article to be folded, means for horizontally guiding said table, folding rollers arpresence rotated by the reciprocation of the table, an electric circuit including said feeding rollers and electro-magneticallycontrolled mechanism for raising and lowering said table t ward and from said folding rollers when a towel is passing between said feeding rollers.

15. In a machine for foldingtowels and the like, the combination of. feeding rollers having means adapted to make electrical contact with each other, a reciprocating table for supporting the article to be folded, nzoans for horizontally guiding said table, folding rollers m'ranged. above the latter, means for raising and lowering said table toward and from said folding rollers, and cooperating means arranged on said table and said rollers when said table is in its raised position for etfectingrotation of said rollers.

16. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers adapted to make electrical contact with each other-,a reciprocating table for supporting the article to be folded, means for horizontally guiding said table, folding rollersar 12o ranged above the latter and adaptedto engage said table for folding the article, and electro -magnetically controlled mechanism arranged in circuit with said feeding rollers for raising said table into operative relation 12-5 to said folding rollerswhen a towel is passing between the feeding rollers, said towel acting as a circuit breaker therefor.

17. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers 13 adapted to make electrical contact'with each other, a reciprocating table for supporting the article to be folded, means for horizontally guiding said table, folding rollers arranged above the latter and adapted to be rotated electro magnetically controlled mechanism for raising and lowering said table into and out of operative relation to said folding rollers, and means for carrying the folded article away after said table is lowered.

18. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers, a reciprocating table for supporting the ar ticleto be folded and provided with a .plurality of grooves, means for horizontally guiding said table, folding rollers arranged above the latter, means for rasing and lowering said table into and out of operative relation to said folding rollers, and means for carrying the folded article away comprising endless tapes adapted to pass through the grooves in said table when the same is in its raised position and to pass above the upper surface of the table when the latter is in its lowered position.

19. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers, ahollow table provided with perforationsin its top and movable relatively to said rollers, folding rollers arranged adjacent to the latter and adapted to be rotated by themovement of the table, and means for producing suction in said table.

20. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers adapted to make electrical contact with each other, a hollow table provided with perfora i tions in its top for supporting the article to be folded and movable relatively to said rollers, folding rollers arranged above said table, and electro-magnetically controlled mechanism included in a circuitwith said feeding rollers for producing a vacuum in said table when the same is in its raised position.

21. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers, a hollow reciprocating table provided with perforations in its top surface for supporting the article to be folded, folding rollers arranged above said table and electro-magnetically controlled mechanism for producing a vacuum in said table when-a towel is passing between said feedingrollers;

22. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers,

a hollow reciprocating table provided with perforations in its top surface for supporting the article to be folded, folding rollers arranged above said table, and electrically controlled means for raising the table into engagement with said folding rollers and for producing a'vacuum in the table when a towel is passing betw'eensaid feeding rollers.

by the reciprocation of the table,

In a machine'for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers, a hollow reciprocating table provided with perforations in its top for supporting the ar ticle to be folded, folding rollers arranged above said table, and electro-magnetically controlled mechanisms for raising the table into engagement with said folding rollers and for producing a vacuum in the table when a' towel is passing between said feeding rollers, saidmechanisms being capable of operation simultaneously.

24:. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers,

a reciprocating table for supporting the article to be-folded, folding rollers arranged above said table, and means for raising and lowering said table into and out of engagementwlth said folding rollers comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder and cooperating with said table and an electro-magnetically controlled valve for regulating the admission of air to said cylinder, I

25. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination. of feeding rollers, a reciprocating table for supporting the article to be folded, folding rollers arranged above said table, and means for raising thetable into engagement with said folding rollers when a towel is passing'between the feeding rollers comprising a cylinder, 2. piston movable therein and coiiperating with saidtable, a valve for regulating the admission of air to said cylinder, and an electro-motor adapted to control the opening and closing of said valve.

26. In a machine for folding towels and the like, the combination of feeding rollers,

a reciprocating table for supporting the article to be folded, folding rollers arranged above said table, and means for raising the table into engagement with said folding rollers comprising-a cylinder, a piston movable therein and cooperating with said table, a rotatable valve for controlling the admission of air to said cylinder for raising the table, two electro-motors, one of which is adapted to operate the other for controlling the opening of said valve when a towel is passing between the feeding rollers, said towel acting as a circuit breaker.

27. In a machine for folding towelsand the like, the combination of feeding rollers, a hollow reciprocating table provided with perforations in its top for supporting the article to. be folded, folding rollers arranged above the table, and means for producing avacuum in said table for retaining the towels thereto comprising anelctro-magnetically controlled valve for regulating the vacuum in said table.

28. In a'machine for folding towels and hollow reciprocating table provided with the like, the combination of feeding rollers, a

into the machine.

perforations in its top for supporting the article to be folded, folding rollers arranged above the table, and means for producing a vacuum in said table for retaining the towels thereto when a towel is passing between.

the feeding rollers comprising a vacuum pump connected with the interior of said table, a valve for regulating the vacuum in said ta 1e, and an electro-magnet adapted to contro the opening and closing of said valve.

29. In a machine for folding towels and a the llke, the combination of feeding rollers,

a hollow reciprocating'table provided with perforations in its top for supporting the article to be folded, folding rollers arranged above said table, and means for simultaneously raising the table into engagement with said folding rollers and for producing a vacuum therein when a towel is between said feeding rollers, comprising ai-r suction and compression devices, including a cylinder. :1

piston movable in said cylinder and cooperating with the latter to raise said table, a valve for regulating the admission of air to said cylinder, a valve for regulating the vacuum in the table, and elcctro-magnets forcontrolling the opening and closing of said valve.

30. A sheet fabric folding machine comprising folding rollers, a folding table reciprocating relatively to said rollers, a shaft provided with a crank, a link connecting said crank with said table, and means which control the operative relation of said rollers and feed table and which are responsive to the absence and presence of a sheet moving 31. A sheet fabric folding machine comprising folding rollers, a folding table reciprocating relativel Y to said rollers, a shaft provided with a cran c, a link connecting said crank with said table, means for adjustably connecting the other end of said link with said crank, and means which control: the operative relation of said rollers and feed table and'which are responsive to the absence and presence of asheet moving into the ma-- chine.

32. A sheet fabric folding machine comprising folding rollers, a folding table reciprocating relatively to said rollers, a shaft provided with a crank, a link connecting said crank with said table, means for adjustably prisin folding rollers, a reciprocating folding ta le movable toward and from said rollers, movable tracks on which said table slides, a main frame, and links connecting said frame with said tracks. 34.'A sheet fabric folding machine com prising folding rollers, a reciprocating folding table movable toward and from said rollers, movable tracks on which said table slides, a main frame, and links connecting said frame with said slides, and stops for limiting the swinging movement of said tracks.

35. A sheet fabric folding machine comprisin folding rollers, a reciprocating foldin ta le movable toward and from said rollers, gear wheels arranged on said rollers,

a gear rack arranged on said table and movable into and out of engagement with said gear wheels, and means which control the. operative relation of said rollers and feed table and which are responsive to the absence and presence of a sheet moving into .the machine.

LEO M. KOHN. 

